Blackboard assembly



Oct. 18, 1960 2,956,350

V. l. AKERS BLACKBOARD ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 25, 1954 INVENTOR. VICTOR AKERS /5;E/\'- Ma a/1.0%

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent BLACKBOARD ASSEMBLY 'Victor I. Akers, 852 Arlington Ave., Berkeley, Calif.

Filed Jan. 25, 1954, Ser. No. 405,949

Claims. (Cl. 3563) My invention relates to blackboards and more particularly a multiple blackboard assembly.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved blackboard assembly.

(2) To provide a novel and improved blackboard assembly providing multiple blackboard surfaces.

(3) To provide a novel and improved blackboard assembly enabling both sides of a blackboard to be utilized simultaneously.

(4) To provide a novel and improved blackboard assembly which provides seating facilities to the user.

(5) To provide a novel and improved multiple blackboard assembly capable of being collapsed to occupy a minimum ofspace for storage purposes.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a multiple blackboard assembly of the present invention, as set up for use; l

Figure 2 is a front view in elevation of the assembly of Figure l; H

1 Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but depicting the blackboard assembly in a different condition of adjustment;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the assembly in its collapsed condition;

Figure 5 is a three dimensional view of the blackboard assembly, as set up for use;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of construction involved in the blackboard assembly of the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the multiple blackboard assembly involves a blackboard 1 mounted in a frame 3 to each side of the lower edge of which frame, there is affixed the chalk trough 5.

The blackboard and its frame are supported in an elevated position by a pair of legs 7 at each end, such legs being of greater length than the height of the frame and pivotally secured to a side edge of the frame adjacent an upper corner thereof. This is preferably accomplished by first aflixing to the side edge of the frame a pivot plate 9 and pivotally securing the upper end of each of a pair of legs to such plate.

The pivotal attachment of the legs as indicated, enables the same to be open to a spread position. In such spread position, the legs are stabilized. The means provided for stabilizing the legs in such position include a stabilizing channel 11 atfixed to the frame along each side edge thereof, and a foldable crossbrace 13 connecting the legs of each pair at approximately chair height from the floor, in the spread position of the legs.

Each such crossbrace includes a pair of members 15 each pivotally connected to one of the legs of such pair, and hinge means 17 joining said members at a point "ice alongside one of the stabilizing channels, such hinge means including a hinge pin 19 slidably interlocking in such channel. Such construction while stabilizing the legs in the spread position, nevertheless enables the legs to be brought together to collapse the assembly for storage purposes.

By establishing the crossbraces at approximately chair height from the floor in the spread position of the legs, the opposing beam members can be utilized as supports for a board 21 to provide seating facilities both to the front and to the rear of the frame, whereby both sides of the blackboard may be utilized, and simultaneously if desired, as when more than one individual is using the blackboard at the same time.

in view of the stress which would be applied to the crossbrace hinges when the seating facilities are utilized, I provide for the insertion of a supporting pin 23 transversely of the channel at a point where the hinge will engage the pin in the open position of the blackboard assembly.

To accommodate the assembly to individuals of different heights, certain adjustments in the structure are contemplated. To elevate the seating facilities for example, the beam members are provided with latterly spaced pivot holes 25 to enable the angle of spread between the legs of each pair to be altered while corresponding vertically spaced holes 27 in the channel to receive the supporting pin will provide for support of the crossbraces at the hinge, to maintain said crossbraces horizontal in any of the various elevated positions provided by the lateral spaced adjustments of the legs.

The spacing of either seat from the blackboard may be accomplished by merely shifting the board along its supporting beam members and securing it thereto at any desired position. The board may be conveniently afixed by merely bolting the same to the beam members, utilizing vertical bolt holes 29 provided therein for the purpose.

The blackboard assembly of the present invention is particularly adaptable for use by children, and accord-1 ingly the term chair height is to be interpreted with respect to the persons for whom such an assembly is constructed.

From the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent that the same fulfills all the objects of my invention, and while I have illustrated the same in considerable detail, it is apparent that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved.

I accordingly do not desired to be limited in my protection to such details of construction as I have illustrated and described in my preferred embodiment except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple blackboard assembly comprising a blackboard frame, means supporting said frame at an elevation, said means including a pair of legs pivotally secured to each side of said frame, said legs being longer than the height of said frame, and means for stabilizing said pairs of legs in a spread position, said means including a stabiiizing channel along each side edge of said frame, a foldable crossbrace connecting the legs of each pair in the spread position of said legs, each of said crossbraces including a pair of beam members each pivotally conneoted to one of the legs of such pair, hinge means joining said beam members at a point alongside one of said channels and means on each said crossbrace slidably interlocking in its adjacent channel.

2. A multiple blackboard assembly comprising a blackboard frame, means supporting said frame at an elevation, said means including a pair of pivot plates, each affixed to a side edge of said frame adjacent an upper corner thereof, and a pair of legs pivotally secured to each of said pivot plates, said legs being longer than the height of said frame, and means for stabilizing said pairs of legs in a spread position, said means including a stabilizing channel along each side edge of said frame, a foldable cross brace connecting the legs ofeach pair at approximately chair height from the floor in the spread position of said legs, each of said cross braces including a pair of beam members each pivotally connected to one of the legs of such pair, and hinge means joining said beam members at a point alongside one of said channels and including a hinge pin slidably interlocking in such channel.

3. A multiple blackboard assembly comprising a blackboard frame, means supporting said frame at an elevation, said means including a pair of legs pivotally secured to each side of said frame, said legs being longer than the height of said frame, means for stabilizing said pairs of legs in a spread position, said means including a stabilizing channel along each side edge of said frame, a foldable cross brace connecting the legs of each pair in the spread position of said legs, each of said cross braces including a pair of beam members each pivotally connected to one of the legs of such pair, and hinge means joining said beam members at a point alongside one of said channels and including a hinge pin slidably interlocking in such channel, and means for seating an individual both to the front and rear of said frame.

4. A multiple blackboard assemblycomprising a blackboard frame, means supporting said frame at an elevation, said means including a pair of pivot plates, each affixed to a side edge of said frame adjacent an upper corner thereof, and apair of legs pivotally secured to each of said pivot plates, said legs being longer than the height of said frame, means for stabilizing said pairs of legs in a spread position, said means including a stabilizing channel along each side edge of said frame, a foldable cross brace connecting the legs of each pair at approximately chair height from the floor in the spread position of said legs, each of said cross braces including a pair of beam members each pivotally connected to one of 4 the legs of such pair, and hinge means joining said beam members at a point alongside one of said channels and including a hinge pin slidably interlocking in such chansaid frame.

2,956,350 a 7 if a 4 nel, means supported by a pair of oppositely disposed beam members of said cross braces for seating an individual in front of said frame, said seating means comprising a board spanning said oppositely disposed beam members, and corresponding seating means supported by the remaining pair of oppositely disposed beam members of said cross braces for seating an individual to the rear of 5. A multiple blackboard assembly comprising a blackboard frame, means supporting said frame at an elevation, said means including a pair of 'pivot' plates, each afiixed to a side edge of said frame adjacent an upper corner thereof, and a pair of legs pivotally secured to each of said pivotrplates, said legsbeing longer than the height of said frame, means for stabilizing said pairs of legs in a spread position, said means including a stabilizing channel along each side edge of said frame, a foldable cross brace connecting the legs of each pair at approximately chair height from the floor in the'spread position of said legs, each of said cross braces including a an individual in front of said frame, said seating means comprising a board spanning said oppositely disposed beam members, means for adjusting said seating means With respect to said frame, and corresponding adjustable seating means supported by the remaining pair of oppositely disposed beam members of said cross braces for seating an individual to the rear of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

